October 10, 2005
Playoffs Today
There's just one game five this season, and it's tonight in Anaheim as the New York Yankees face the LAnaheim Angels for the right to fly to Chicago tomorrow and face the White Sox. Tonight features a rematch of game 1 as Mike Mussina faces Bartolo Colon. Both get a needed extra day of rest, Mussina for his elbow, Colon for his back.
The key to success with Mussina is the number of walks he issues. In game one, no Angels received a free pass. Mussina did not put batters away quickly, however, averaging 4 1/2 pitches per batter. The Yankees in general would much prefer a great, short outing to a Mussina getting hammered in the third, but that leaves them with the problem of getting the game from the sixth to the ninth. I see them with two alternatives:
- Score lots of runs.
- Use Randy Johnson.
Johnson last pitched Friday and will probably start game 2 if the Yankees get to the LCS. This would be his day to throw on the side anyway. One or two innings isn't going to kill the guy. I'm sure the Yankees know what Johnson did to them out of the pen in 1995. I'm sure the Yankees know what Randy did to the Angels in the 1995 playoff game. If he doesn't get the first couple of batters out, go back to Sturtze/Gordon/Rivera. But Randy's the best option Torre has for long middle relief.
Since joining the Angels, Bartolo Colon pitched poorly vs. the Yankees. Add last Tuesday's performance to his three regular season starts, and Colon has a 7.94 ERA vs. the Yankees over the last two seasons.
The Angels struck out seven times last night after just 13 in the first three games. The two by Rivera were particularly impressive, as both were extremely hittable balls. They were just in unexpected locations. The Angels batters need to get the bat on the ball again tonight to win.
Look for this game to go the Yankees way early and the Angels way late. If the Yankees can get a big lead off Colon they'll likely hold on for the win. If it's close going into the seventh, the outcome is more likely to be in the Angels favor.
Enjoy!
Two words: Aaron Small. I trust him in long/middle relief more than anyone else. Torre is crazy if he doesn't use him for at least 2 tonight.
Let's not forget what Randy did to the Yankees in game 7 in 2001, pitching 1 1/3 hitless to finish the game and allow Arizona to come back in the bottom of the 9th.
Rivera threw 35 pitches last night - I suspect they'll have him pitch two more innings tonight.
You're right about the Angel strikeouts. It was pretty distressing to watch Rivera work Los Serafines inside and then have them caught looking on a pitch just barely on the outside side of "right down the middle." If they could have seen those pitches coming, they could have really made some noise. But they didn't see them coming.
you forgot one thing,in playoff time,close calls over the years always favor the yankees,because of the media favors the big apple and so do the umpires.
The Angels will win 7-4. Plan on it.
Plan on it? Isn't it "Bet on It?" Either way, this game can go either way. I have not read one thing that has convinced me to give the edge to one or the other team. Both starting pitchers are capable of throwing gems or stinking it up. Anyone who thinks they know doesn't know nothing.
Yeah Joe Torre probably doesn't remember 95 as that was before he cam he does remember 01
Victory is ever so sweet.